Hand-Reared Sheep Set To Be the Star of Penistone Agricultural Show

A hand-reared sheep is set to be the fund-raising star of South Yorkshire’s largest agricultural show after finding fame on social media.

Freddie the sheep has become the official mascot of Penistone Show after attracting thousands of fans on the event’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Freddie, born on March 31st, was rejected by his mother as a lamb and bottle-fed by Penistone Show committee member Georgia Hoyland.

The woolly mascot is now the star of Penistone Show and organisers have printed fundraising T-shirts with the #whereisfreddie? slogan on, to raise money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Freddie will also be in his own special pen at the show on Saturday September 12th, where he will be available for photographs and selfies – if you can find him.

Georgia, aged 18 of Penistone, said: “We couldn’t believe the response that Freddie got on our social media channels. He attracted us an extra 39,000 hits on our Facebook page.

“And sales of our #whereisfreddie? T-shirts are going really well too. They are flying off the website. All profits raised will be given to Yorkshire Air Ambulance after the show, and we are very grateful for people’s support.

“We are thrilled that Freddie has become such a hit with the public and really hope people will come and meet him at the show.”

Georgia, who runs a smallholding with her partner Sam Bladen in Thurgoland, says that the special bond she and Freddie have developed means he will always be treated as a pet – separate to the other farm animals she keeps, including chickens, cows, pigs and more sheep.

Penistone’s 143rd Agricultural Show will take place on Saturday September 12th on Penistone’s 70 acre showground near the town centre. Around 18, 000 people are expected to attend and see hundreds of farm animals compete for prizes. The family event will also feature show jumping, live music, dog shows, arts and crafts, artisan food and vintage vehicle displays and much more.

#whereisfreddie? T-shirts are available to buy via www.penistoneshow.com All profits are being donated to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance who are the charity partner for this year’s show.

The hashtag #whereisfreddie? has also been used on social media to spread the word about the Penistone Show and its hand-reared star. See Facebook.